Romeo Roy Blanchette

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Romeo Roy Blanchette (January 6, 1913 – January 10, 1982) was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Joliet from 1966 to 1979.

The Coat of Arms of Bishop Blanchette

Biography[]

Romeo Blanchette was born in Kankakee County, Illinois, to Oscar and Josephine (née Langlois) Blanchette.[1] After attending Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago from 1928 to 1931, he studied at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1934.[1] He was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal George Mundelein on April 3, 1937, upon the recommendation of rector Reynold Henry Hillenbrand.[2]

He continued his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, earning a Licentiate of Canon Law in 1939.[1] Blanchette was a notary of the matrimonial court in the Archdiocese of Chicago (1938-1949) when Bishop Martin Dewey McNamara brought him to the newly established Diocese of Joliet, where he was made chancellor.[1] In 1950, he was named vicar general of the diocese and a domestic prelate.[1]

On February 8, 1965, Blanchette was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet and Titular Bishop of Maxita by Pope Paul VI.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following April 3 from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, with Bishops William Aloysius O'Connor and Ernest John Primeau serving as co-consecrators.[2] He attended the fourth session of the Second Vatican Council. Following the death of Bishop McNamara, Blanchette was named the second Bishop of Joliet on July 19, 1966.[2] He served in this capacity until January 30, 1979, when he resigned after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease.[2][3] He later succumbed to the illness and died at age 69.[3]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Bishop Romeo Roy Blanchette". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  3. ^ a b "Bishop Romeo Blanchette". Bishop Romeo Blanchette Assembly 3044.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Joliet in Illinois
1966—1979 		Succeeded by
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